President, Transportation Finance
C. Jeffrey Knittel is President of Transportation Finance, a diversified organization which provides financing solutions for the aerospace and rail industries including commercial airlines, business aircraft operators, aerospace and defense manufacturers and suppliers, railroads and shippers.
Mr. Knittel is responsible for the management of four groups: Commercial Airlines, comprised of approximately 300 aircraft operated by more than 115 customers in 55 countries. In addition, CIT has more than 150 aircraft on order, with a retail value approximately $10 billion; Business Aircraft which includes whole and fractional business aircraft finance assets and is the largest institution in fractional share financing; Leveraged Finance – Transportation, which was recently formed to deliver a broad suite of corporate finance and advisory solutions to the Aerospace and Defense, Rail, Logistics, Trucking, Intermodal and Marine industries; and CIT Rail, one of the youngest major fleets with over 110,000 cars and more than 500 locomotives.
Areas of expertise:
With more than 25 years of experience in transportation finance, Mr. Knittel began his career with the Cessna Finance Company and later joined Manufacturers Hanover Leasing Corporation. In 1986, he transferred to the CIT Group/Capital Finance division where he held several senior management positions.
A graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where he received a Bachelor's degree in Aviation Management, Mr. Knittel also attended the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business in their Advanced Management Program.
Mr. Knittel serves as Chairman of the Board of Just One Break, a not-for-profit institution for the disabled founded by Eleanor Roosevelt, and as a member of the Board of Abilities. He is also a Past President and member of the Board of Governors of the Wings Club, a member of the President’s Advisory Board at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and a Senior Appraiser of the International Society of Transport Aircraft Traders (ISTAT).
-------
Members of the press who have an interest in speaking with this executive can contact curt.ritter@cit.com .